As the minor-league season enters its final stretch, there is still plenty to celebrate across the Baltimore Orioles organization.
This week brought new faces, home debuts, two rehab assignments and another collection of standout performances from some of the system’s top talent.
Let’s take a look at this week’s O’s Prospects of the Week.
Triple-A Norfolk: Heston Kjerstad – OF / Yaramil Hiraldo – RHP
The name keeps coming up because the bat keeps catching fire. Heston Kjerstad may have done most of his damage in just two games, but he still finished the week hitting .500, going 6-for-12 with a double and a triple.
Kjerstad also added two walks and a hit by pitch, as his batting average rose nine points. His August slash line now sits at an impressive .298/.403/.544.
For the season, the former No. 2 overall draft pick is slashing .283/.331/.455 across 76 games. He has collected 82 hits, including 15 doubles, one triple and 11 home runs, while driving in 44 runs and scoring 33. He also owns a .345 BABIP.
Silent J is continuing to make a strong case for a September call-up. If his bat stays this hot, Baltimore could have another dangerous left-handed option waiting in Norfolk.
On the mound, Yaramil Hiraldo earns this week’s Pitcher of the Week honors after another scoreless appearance and because of the consistency he has shown whenever he takes the mound for the Tides.
Hiraldo appeared in just one game this week, tossing a scoreless inning. That extended his streak to eight consecutive appearances without allowing a run, spanning 8.1 innings since July 5.
In 10 appearances for Norfolk this season, Hiraldo has pitched 10.1 innings while posting a 1-0 record, two holds and one save in one opportunity. He owns a 0.87 ERA with nine strikeouts against five walks.
Opponents are hitting just .118 against Hiraldo, while his .111 BABIP is the best mark of his professional career. It has been a small sample, but Hiraldo continues to make the most of his opportunities in Triple-A and could be building momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Double-A Chesapeake: Wehiwa Aloy – INF / Anthony Eyanson – RHP
Offensively, the heart of the Chesapeake lineup continued to do damage, led this week by shortstop Wehiwa Aloy.
The Baltimore Battery’s No. 1 overall prospect went 5-for-20 with two doubles, a home run and two multi-hit performances. He also drove in four runs during the series, leaving him just four RBIs shy of 100 for his young professional career.
Now that the dust has settled following the trade deadline, one thing Orioles fans have already grown accustomed to seeing is dominant starts from Anthony Eyanson. This week was no different.
The Battery’s third-ranked prospect took the mound Thursday and delivered seven strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out eight. The outing brought his season strikeout total to 118, with 24 of those coming in his three starts since joining the organization at the deadline.
The series also featured the long-awaited return of Félix Bautista, who saw professional action for the first time since July 20, 2025, when a shoulder injury eventually required surgery. Bautista recorded one out and issued three walks during his first rehab outing, but there were still plenty of encouraging signs.
He induced a pop out on a 94 mph sinker and topped at 97 mph with his fastball. The command will need time to return after such a lengthy layoff, but seeing the velocity come so easily was undoubtedly a positive development.
High-A Frederick: Enddy Azocar – OF / Kyson Witherspoon – RHP
The prospects acquired in the Adley Rutschman trade continue to make an immediate impact, and outfielder Enddy Azocar once again stood out this week for Frederick.
Azocar played in every game this past week and slashed .393/.433/.571 with a team-high 1.004 OPS. His 11 hits were tied for the most in the South Atlantic League during the week, as The Battery’s No. 12 prospect recorded two doubles, a home run, four RBIs and went a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen-base attempts.
Through 17 games with Frederick, Azocar has looked locked in at the plate. He owns a .903 OPS this season but has been even better during his time with the Keys, hitting .357 with a 1.024 OPS. The 19-year-old has already set career-highs with 130 hits, 33 doubles, 21 home runs and 79 RBIs.
On the mound, Kyson Witherspoon turned in his best start since the trade deadline. The 22-year-old right-hander tossed five no-hit innings, walked three and struck out eight. It marked his third eight-strikeout performance of the season and his second straight with at least eight strikeouts since joining the Orioles organization.
The former Oklahoma standout owns a 1.26 ERA in his first 14.1 innings with Frederick and has allowed nine hits and two earned runs while walking 10 and striking out 20, lowering his season ERA to 4.55 in the process.
The Battery’s ninth-ranked prospect has wasted little time making an impression and continues to show why he could be an important part of the Orioles’ future rotation.
Low-A Delmarva: Stiven Martinez – OF / Esteban Mejia – RHP
It was a close race for Delmarva’s offensive honor this week, and The Battery’s No. 13 prospect Ty Head deserves recognition for an excellent series. However, Stiven Martinez narrowly earned the nod after another strong showing at the plate for Delmarva.
Martinez slashed .300/.417/.600 with a team-high 1.017 OPS. The 19-year-old collected six hits, blasted two home runs, drove in three runs and drew four walks.
His 2026 campaign has been a step forward from last season, as Martinez is currently slashing .231/.316/.383 with a .699 OPS while setting career-highs with 78 hits and 12 home runs.
On the mound, Esteban Mejia finally looked like he was beginning to put things together again. The 19-year-old right-hander tossed 3.1 shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out five.
It has been a difficult season for Mejia, who owns an 8.73 ERA across 20 starts after posting a 2.94 ERA in 14 starts last year. Control has been his biggest issue, as he has walked 65 batters while striking out just 58.
Still, this week’s outing was an encouraging step in the right direction, as Mejia looks to finish the season on a positive note.
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